Radio Commentary
If you suspect that your child is having a problem in school, in any area, how do you know when you should call your child’s teacher?
It might be useful to know that most teachers say they want to know what’s going on in their students’ lives.
Chances are that if you’ve noticed a problem, your child’s teacher has noticed something is wrong, too.
By working together, you and the teacher may be able to come up with a good solution for your child.
When should a parent call a teacher?
Call if you see a dramatic change in your child’s behavior — if a happy child becomes withdrawn, or a friendly child wants to be alone.
Call if your child’s grades drop suddenly, for no apparent reason.
You should also call if there’s been a change in your family. A new marriage, a divorce, or a new baby all can affect schoolwork and can indicate that other problems might follow if not addressed.
Good communication between teacher and parent can make a world of difference, and can provide the opportunity for a solution that is supported by all involved.
In the long run, your child gains the most from this type of collaboration.
If in doubt, make the call.
Radio Commentary
Parent-teacher conferences can be a very helpful means of communication. To increase their effectiveness, parents should consider some preliminary steps.
First, take time before the conference to think about your child’s strengths, challenges, study habits, and classmates.
Ask your child: What do you like about the classroom? What would you like to change? Do you understand the work? Do you feel you’re doing well? What makes you think so?
There are also several questions a parent should ask the teacher during the conference: What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses? How can I help him improve? Is my child working up to his ability? If not, why do you think so and how can I help?
Is my child’s schoolwork progressing as it should? If not, how can I help her catch up? If my child is already ahead of other students, what will challenge or encourage her?
How does my child get along with other students? Does he take part in groups? Is he unusually shy or aggressive?
Are there any special behavior or learning concerns I need to know about?
What kinds of tests will be given this year? What are the tests supposed to tell?
Is my child’s homework turned in on time, and does it meet your expectations? How much time should be spent on homework each night?
Remember, teachers and parents share the same goal: Both want the child to learn and succeed. Together, they can become a powerful force for positive change in the life of a child.
Radio Commentary
Tests are an important part of a child’s education. Still, it is important to keep in mind what tests can and cannot show.
A test can indicate what a student knows about a given subject. It can also show the types of reasoning a student finds difficult or easy to do.
A test can also reveal what a student still needs to learn. It can point out weaknesses and challenges, and show where further instruction could make a difference.
What a test cannot show is how hard a student has tried. It can’t show the amount of studying that took place or the effort that was put into trying to learn the material.
For some students, it takes little effort to do well on tests. They instinctively know what kinds of answers are being sought by the nature of the questions.
Others study very hard but find it more difficult to show what they know, so they may not score as well.
Parents need to make sure children know that whatever they score on a test, they are stilled loved. It may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget and very important to children who are trying hard to do their best.
All children want to do well on tests. But realistically, they simply won’t be able to do so 100 percent of the time.
Make sure your children know you support their efforts, not just the numbers they are able to attain.
Radio Commentary
Homework hassles can often be avoided when parents value, monitor, and guide their children’s work.
But sometimes this help is not enough. Problems can still arise. If they do, teachers, parents, and students may need to work together to resolve them.
You may want to contact the teacher:
- If your children are unwilling to do their assignments.
- If the instructions are unclear.
- If you can’t seem to help your child get organized to tackle the assignments.
- If neither you nor your child can understand the purpose of an assignment.
- If the assignments are frequently too hard or too easy.
- Or if your child has missed school and needs to make up work.
Contact the teacher as soon as you suspect your child has a problem. Give the teacher a chance to work out the issue. Be sure to give the teacher’s suggestions a chance to work.
Approach the teacher with a cooperative spirit, understanding that the teacher wants to help your child, even if you disagree about the method.
It’s easier to solve problems if teachers and parents view each other cooperatively.
Radio Commentary
Public schools have always strived to fulfill their mission of helping students improve their skills and reach their full potential. Accountability has always been an important priority.
In current times, accountability is focused almost exclusively on test scores.
Supporters of testing contend that tests will lead to increased accountability and measurable results.
Opponents argue that average scores on high-stakes testing do not indicate how far a given teacher or school has taken a group of students from where they started. The scores don’t show the progress that was made for the individual student.
We also hear of strong political support balanced by some grassroots opposition. Clearly, there is controversy.
Nonetheless, right now high-stakes assessments are the most influential measure. They are required of all schools and students in our state, and there are rewards and sanctions depending on the average outcome.
Some young people are “naturals” at test-taking. They can sail through tests without stress. For many others, the taking of national and state standardized tests can be a time of high frustration and anxiety.
Four traits can help children feel confident about tests throughout their school careers: Being Receptive, Relaxed, Ready, and Rested. Parents who help nurture these traits can help their children succeed.
News release
Assemblymember Das Williams helped the Dons Net Café select a new student CEO last week. Williams interviewed student Amazing Grace Llanos for the position of Dons Net Café CEO, modeling current best practices in the business context. The Dons Net Café is a unique program that enables students to “start up” a variety of philanthropic businesses and ventures that serve people around the world. In this two-period class at Santa Barbara High School, each student has his or her own position in the DNC’s governance and operation structure, as well as a venture they support.
At the beginning of each term, the students of the Dons Net Café participate in interviews to determine their roles and responsibilities in the class. All interviews are conducted by local business partners in the Santa Barbara community. Das Williams was chosen to interview the CEO candidate in the presence of classmates, school administration, and business supporters. Before the interview, Williams gave a brief lesson on interview etiquette, how to conserve water in the current drought, and strategies to obtain financial aid students may need for college.
The Dons Net Café, a Regional Occupational Program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, is a student-run business that represents a 21-year commitment to inspire students to create positive social and environmental change through ethical commerce. These efforts are represented through participation in Virtual Enterprise, Voluntary Income Taxes Assistance (VITA), Roots and Shoots, and Service Learning. All profits benefit students and associated projects because they believe in “Doin’ Some Good in the World.”
Further information is available by contacting Lee Knodel (Mrs. B.) at 963-8597 or by email at sbdons@hotmail.com.
Radio Commentary
What do parents need to know about high school?
Beyond the school calendar and what classes your students will take, you should also be familiar with graduation requirements and which classes prepare students for college and careers.
It’s important for parents to understand the school’s academic and social standards.
Here are some tips for staying informed:
- Obtain and read everything the school offers. Gather newsletters, handbooks, notices and course descriptions, most of which is also available on the school’s website. Read it all.
- Get to know the staff. Know everyone from the principal and school support personnel to the teachers. Make an appointment for face-to-face meetings. Plan your questions before you arrive.
- Talk to other parents. Information about special programs, scholarships and required classes can all come from other parents. It is especially helpful to talk to parents who have older children.
- Ask questions. That’s your right. And the staff at local high schools are eager to answer all your questions.
- Finally, check homework. You can get a lot of information by seeing activities and assignments.
Looking at schoolwork not only lets you know what your child is doing, it also tells him or her that you believe school is important.
Radio Commentary
Parents want to provide the best they can for their children, but many of them don’t know how to go about giving their children what they want without spoiling them.
Some well-meaning moms and dads can’t bear to see their children sad or disappointed, so they give them everything they ask for.
Remember that it’s possible to set limits so that children are less likely to become overly indulged.
Children are not always able to make the distinction between what they want and what they need. Parents have to do it for them, even if it makes children temporarily unhappy.
First, make sure that “no” means “no” — not “maybe.”
If you’re at all ambivalent, children will easily pick up on it. They sense when you are uncomfortable saying no to them.
When you don’t send a clear message, you actually reinforce pleading, whining, and even tantrums.
Remember that all children test their parents. That’s their way of finding out if you really mean what you say. So act secure about saying ‘no’ when you have to.
Of course it can feel very uncomfortable to deny children their desires. But children who get everything they want are not necessarily happier for it. Life will not always be so kind over the long haul.
In fact, children feel much more secure when boundaries are clear and parents are consistent about the decisions they make.
